Wireless internet gateway

Abstract

A wireless Internet gateway bridges wireless devices to the Internet, e.g., via a short message service center (SMSC). The gateway provides a portal to SMPP, HTTP, TNPP, or other protocol messages using Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) techniques. Application servers insert RMI objects containing messages in a message queue handler of the gateway. The RMI objects are queued and passed either directly to a destination delivery handler (e.g., SMPP, SMTP, HTTP or TNPP protocol handler), or passed through a generic destination interface. An SMTP handler provides direct communication of SMTP protocol messages (i.e., email) to the message queue. An SMPP link proxy module provides direct access between a local application server and the destination delivery handler. The messages are packaged into relevant messages of the particular destination protocol (e.g., SMPP), and transmitted to the relevant network element (e.g., to an SMSC).

1. A wireless Internet gateway, comprising:
 a Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) handler; 
 a destination handler; and 
 a message handler between said RMI handler and said destination handler; 
 wherein RMI objects are inserted in said message handler by an application server in communication with said RMI handler. 
 
     
     
       2. The wireless Internet gateway according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said destination handler utilizes SMPP protocols. 
 
     
     
       3. The wireless Internet gateway according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said destination handler utilizes HTTP protocols. 
 
     
     
       4. The wireless Internet gateway according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said destination handler utilizes TNPP protocols. 
 
     
     
       5. The wireless Internet gateway according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an SMPP link proxy module providing direct communication between an application server and said destination handler. 
 
     
     
       6. The wireless Internet gateway according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a message queue; 
 wherein messages contained in RMI objects in said message handler are queued for transmission to a destination in said message queue. 
 
     
     
       7. The wireless Internet gateway according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a generic destination interface between said message queue and said destination handler. 
 
     
     
       8. The wireless Internet gateway according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a chat server in communication with said RMI handler. 
 
     
     
       9. The wireless Internet gateway according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an e-mail server in communication with said RMI handler. 
 
     
     
       10. The wireless Internet gateway according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an SMTP handler in communication with said handler. 
 
     
     
       11. A wireless Internet gateway, comprising:
 a Java Remote Method Invocation (RMI) handler; 
 an SMPP delivery handler; and 
 a message handler between said RMI handler and said SMPP delivery handler; 
 wherein RMI objects are inserted in said message handler by an application server in communication with said RMI handler, directed to said SMPP delivery handler for delivery to a wireless device using SMPP protocols. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet, comprising:
 accepting an RMI object from an application server in communication with the Internet; 
 extracting a short message from said RMI object; and 
 passing said short message to a destination handler for transmission to said wireless network. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 monitoring short messages relating to a particular destination subscriber for billing purposes based on a number of short messages communicated with said destination subscriber. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 13 , wherein said step of passing comprises:
 passing said short message to a generic protocol destination interface; and 
 passing said short message from said generic protocol destination to said destination handler. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 adding a parameter to said short message in a wireless Internet gateway. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 13 , wherein said added parameter comprises:
 a message priority level. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 13 , wherein said added parameter comprises:
 a callback number. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 13 , wherein said added parameter comprises:
 a validity time. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 13 , wherein said added parameter comprises:
 a delivery receipt request. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 logging details about said short message in a messages database. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 storing contents of said short message in a message cache. 
 
     
     
       22. Apparatus for providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet, comprising:
 means for accepting an RMI object from an application server in communication with the Internet; 
 means for extracting a short message from said RMI object; and 
 means for passing said short message to a destination handler for transmission to said wireless network. 
 
     
     
       23. The apparatus for providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 22 , wherein said means for passing comprises:
 means for passing said short message to a generic protocol destination interface; and 
 means for passing said short message from said generic protocol destination to said destination handler. 
 
     
     
       24. The apparatus for providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 means for logging details about said short message in a messages database. 
 
     
     
       25. The apparatus for providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 means for storing contents of said short message in a message cache. 
 
     
     
       26. The apparatus for providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 means for receiving an e-mail message from an SMTP handler; and 
 means for passing said e-mail message to said destination handler for transmission to said wireless network. 
 
     
     
       27. The apparatus for providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 22 , further comprising:
 means for adding a parameter to said short message in a wireless Internet gateway. 
 
     
     
       28. The apparatus for providing communications between a wireless network and the Internet according to  claim 22 , wherein said means for adding a parameter adds at least one of:
 a message priority level; 
 a callback number; 
 a validity time; and 
 a delivery receipt request.